{"id":2191592,"date":"2026-10-12T09:12:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T06:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2191592"},"modified":"2026-10-12T09:12:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T06:12:13","slug":"stardew-valley-creators-new-game-haunted-chocolatier-is-more-of-an-action-rpg-than-farming-sim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2191592","title":{"rendered":"Stardew Valley creator&#8217;s new game, Haunted Chocolatier, is &#8220;more of an action RPG&#8221; than farming sim"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"article \" data-ads=\"true\" data-article-type=\"news\" data-article-group=\"news\" data-paywalled=\"false\" data-premium=\"false\" data-sponsored=\"false\" data-type=\"article\">\n<header class=\"article_header\" data-component=\"article-header\">\n<div class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<nav class=\"nav_breadcrumbs\" data-component=\"nav-breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\">\n<ul class=\"nav-links\">\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Home<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/news\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      News<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/haunted-chocolatier\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Haunted Chocolatier<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_details\" id=\"main-content\">\n<h1 class=\"title\">Stardew Valley creator&#8217;s new game, Haunted Chocolatier, is &#8220;more of an action RPG&#8221; than farming sim<\/h1>\n<p class=\"strapline\">&#8220;It&#8217;s for the people that go into the mines.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_asset\">\n<figure class=\"headline_image_wrapper\">\n<p>        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"headline_image\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Barone-chocolatier.jpg?width=570&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;dpr=3&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"Eric Barone in front of screenshots from Stardew Valley and Haunted Chocolatier\" loading=\"eager\" data-uri=\"Barone-chocolatier.jpg\" data-lightbox width=\"570\" height=\"321\"><figcaption>\n          <span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Eurogamer<\/cite><\/span><br \/>\n        <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metadata\">\n<div class=\"avatar\">\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Dom Peppiatt avatar\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/pxl_20220402_110941365.portrait_V04meYj.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1044\" height=\"1130\"><\/p>\n<p>  <img alt=\"Dom Peppiatt avatar\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"pxl_20220402_110941365.portrait_V04meYj.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1044\" height=\"1130\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\n                  <span class=\"article_type\" data-slug=\"news\"><br \/>\n                    News<br \/>\n                  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"by\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/authors\/dom-peppiatt\">Dom Peppiatt<\/a><\/span>                    <span class=\"job_title\"><br \/>\n                      Deputy Editorial Director<br \/>\n                    <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"published_at\">\n<p>Published on   <time datetime=\"2026-10-12T09:12:13+00:00\" data-auto-time-zone=\"true\" data-year=\"numeric\" data-month=\"short\" data-day=\"numeric\" data-hour=\"numeric\" data-minute=\"numeric\">Oct. 12, 2026, 9:12 a.m.<\/time>\n              <\/div>\n<div class=\"comments\">\n      <a class=\"comments__link comments-bubble\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/the-haunted-chocolatier-action-rpg-stardew-valley?view=comments\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n          5 comments<br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"header_actions\">\n<p><button class=\"mypop-button button wide\" data-state=\"follow\" data-type=\"tag\" data-uuid=\"775ccd15-3941-4888-91b8-02d4f38e876e\" data-name=\"Haunted Chocolatier\" data-follow-text=\"Follow Haunted Chocolatier\" data-unfollow-text=\"Following Haunted Chocolatier\" data-aria-follow-text=\"Follow Haunted Chocolatier\" data-aria-unfollow-text=\"Following Haunted Chocolatier\" data-popup=\"true\" data-force-login=\"true\" aria-label=\"Follow Haunted Chocolatier\" title=\"Follow Haunted Chocolatier\"><br \/>\n  Follow Haunted Chocolatier<br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n  <a class=\"button outline wide preferred_source_button\" data-component=\"preferred-source-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=eurogamer.net\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"logo\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><br \/>\nPrioritise us on Google  <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\" data-autopogo>\n<p>Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone, has given a new interview &#8211; and finally revealed a little more information about his upcoming title, Haunted Chocolatier. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gq-magazine.co.uk\/article\/a-decade-after-stardew-valley-eric-barone-is-still-going-it-alone\">a wide-ranging interview with GQ<\/a>,  which tackles topics ranging from creative burnout to the importance of &#8216;cosy gaming&#8217;, Barone also slips in some new information about what we can expect from his highly-anticipated Stardew Valley follow-up.<\/p>\n<p>And it&#8217;s all rather surprising. Per the interview, this game is a much more action-oriented affair than the cosy homesteading of Stardew Valley: &#8220;It is still what I call a town game,&#8221; he told GQ, &#8220;but it&#8217;s more of an action RPG &#8211; the main focus is more about adventuring, finding equipment and getting more powerful. There are monsters, there are boss fights.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"ConcernedApe&apos;s Haunted Chocolatier - Official Early Gameplay Trailer\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zmvpXBl3xpk?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/zmvpXBl3xpk\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">ConcernedApe&#8217;s Haunted Chocolatier &#8211; Official Early Gameplay Trailer<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"button video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=zmvpXBl3xpk\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figure>\n<p>For anyone that&#8217;s played Stardew Valley, this won&#8217;t be a massive shock; there is a combat element to the game, though mostly it&#8217;s sequestered to one portion of the map &#8211; the mines that hold some of the game&#8217;s rarest materials. If you had fun venturing in there at night to fight slimes and horde minerals, you&#8217;re going to like Haunted Chocolatier, it seems. &#8220;[The new game] is for the people in Stardew Valley that go into the mines. That&#8217;s what I do, honestly,&#8221; said Barone.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Elsewhere, Barone noted that Haunted Chocolatier is a more &#8220;metaphysical&#8221; experience than Stardew Valley &#8211; which makes sense, I suppose, given its connection to the world of ghosts and spirits &#8211; and that &#8220;no one&#8217;s playing the game until I&#8217;m ready to show it&#8221;. Hence, there&#8217;s still no word on a solid release date.<\/p>\n<div class=\"gallery\">\n<div class=\"image_wrapper\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier image showing the inside of a fishing shop\" height=\"872\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Haunted-Chocolatier-image-showing-the-inside-of-a-fishing-shop.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.761467889908257\" width=\"1536\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier image showing the inside of a fishing shop\" data-autosize=\"bounds_lossy\" data-uri=\"Haunted-Chocolatier-image-showing-the-inside-of-a-fishing-shop.png\" height=\"872\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.761467889908257\" width=\"1536\"><br \/>\n<span class=\"loading spinner large\"><\/span><\/p>\n<nav class=\"pagination--hoverable\">\n<div class=\"previous\">\n<button class=\"button pagination-button\"><br \/>\n<span aria-label=\"Previous\" class=\"icon\" role=\"img\" style=\"--icon-mask-image: url(&quot;\/static\/solid\/angle-left.svg&quot;)\"><\/span><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"next\">\n<button class=\"button pagination-button\"><br \/>\n<span aria-label=\"Next\" class=\"icon\" role=\"img\" style=\"--icon-mask-image: url(&quot;\/static\/solid\/angle-right.svg&quot;)\"><\/span><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<div class=\"details_overlay\">\n<div class=\"counter\">\n<span class=\"current\">1<\/span> <span class=\"of\">of<\/span> <span class=\"max\">8<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"details\">\n<div class=\"button-wrapper\">\n<button aria-label=\"Toggle information\" class=\"toggle button outline\"><\/button><br \/>\n<button aria-label=\"Close fullscreen gallery\" class=\"close button\"><\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"thumbnails-wrapper overflow-shadow-x\">\n<div class=\"thumbnails\">\n<button class=\"thumbnail active\" data-attribution=\"ConcernedApe\" data-uri=\"Haunted-Chocolatier-image-showing-the-inside-of-a-fishing-shop.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier image showing the inside of a fishing shop\" height=\"872\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Haunted-Chocolatier-image-showing-the-inside-of-a-fishing-shop.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1536\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier image showing the inside of a fishing shop\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"Haunted-Chocolatier-image-showing-the-inside-of-a-fishing-shop.png\" height=\"872\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1536\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-attribution=\"ConcernedApe\" data-uri=\"Haunted-Chocolatier-image-showing-a-nighttime-scene-with-a-person-next-to-a-watery-pool-holding-a-stick.-A-bear-like-creature-is-next-to-them.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier image showing a nighttime scene with a person next to a watery pool holding a stick. A bear like creature is next to them\" height=\"662\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Haunted-Chocolatier-image-showing-a-nighttime-scene-with-a-person-next-to-a-watery-pool-holding-a-stick.-A-bear-like-creature-is-next-to-them.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1177\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier image showing a nighttime scene with a person next to a watery pool holding a stick. A bear like creature is next to them\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"Haunted-Chocolatier-image-showing-a-nighttime-scene-with-a-person-next-to-a-watery-pool-holding-a-stick.-A-bear-like-creature-is-next-to-them.jpg\" height=\"662\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1177\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-attribution=\"ConcernedApe\" data-uri=\"GzUCVSBa4AMzPFu.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier screenshot showing player character looking out over a river in pixel art\" height=\"1377\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/GzUCVSBa4AMzPFu.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"2560\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier screenshot showing player character looking out over a river in pixel art\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"GzUCVSBa4AMzPFu.jpg\" height=\"1377\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"2560\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-attribution=\"ConcernedApe\" data-uri=\"haunted-chocolatier-blob-battle.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier screenshot showing pixel protagonist swinging a sword at a horde of purple blobs\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/haunted-chocolatier-blob-battle.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1600\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier screenshot showing pixel protagonist swinging a sword at a horde of purple blobs\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"haunted-chocolatier-blob-battle.png\" height=\"900\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1600\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-attribution=\"Eric &apos;ConcernedApe&apos; Barone\" data-uri=\"Huanted-Chocolatier-screenshot-showing-pixelated-ghosts-and-humans-in-a-chocolate-shop.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier screenshot showing pixelated ghosts and humans in a chocolate shop\" height=\"491\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Huanted-Chocolatier-screenshot-showing-pixelated-ghosts-and-humans-in-a-chocolate-shop.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"873\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier screenshot showing pixelated ghosts and humans in a chocolate shop\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"Huanted-Chocolatier-screenshot-showing-pixelated-ghosts-and-humans-in-a-chocolate-shop.jpg\" height=\"491\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"873\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-attribution=\"Eric &apos;ConcernedApe&apos; Barone\" data-uri=\"haunted-chocolatier-forest.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier screenshot of player character shooting leafy creature with bow and arrow\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/haunted-chocolatier-forest.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier screenshot of player character shooting leafy creature with bow and arrow\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"haunted-chocolatier-forest.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-attribution=\"Eric Barone\" data-uri=\"haunted-chocolatier-grandpa.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Is this Grandpa in Haunted Chocolatier?\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/haunted-chocolatier-grandpa.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Is this Grandpa in Haunted Chocolatier?\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"haunted-chocolatier-grandpa.jpg\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-uri=\"haunted-chocolatier-combat.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1021\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/haunted-chocolatier-combat.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1906\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"haunted-chocolatier-combat.png\" height=\"1021\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1906\"><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fullscreen_info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<span class=\"label\"><br \/>\nCaption          <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"text\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"attribution\">\n<span class=\"label\"><br \/>\nAttribution          <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"text\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"inline-gallery-caption\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"advert_container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The last update we had on the game was all the way back in January, where Barone <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/im-alive-the-game-is-still-in-development-stardew-valley-creator-concernedape-gives-update-on-haunted-chocolatier\">noted &#8220;I&#8217;m alive, the game is still in development&#8221;<\/a>, following up previous statements he made alluding to the fact that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/haunted-chocolatier-will-have-a-larger-world-than-stardew-valley-creator-confirms\">the world of Haunted Chocolatier is bigger than Stardew<\/a> Valley. As for when it&#8217;s coming out? &#8220;The bottom line is, I don\u2019t want to give a release date,&#8221; Barone said at the start of the year. &#8220;The game will come out when it&#8217;s done.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"2\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you want to learn more about the man behind one of video gaming&#8217;s biggest phenomena of the past few generations, I&#8217;d urge you to read the full GQ piece: it&#8217;s a sensitive, comprehensive look at a man that boasts many talents, yet is also humble and grounded. If you&#8217;re interested in the musical side of his development process, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/culture\/2022\/dec\/16\/stardew-valley-eric-barone-interview-soundtrack-seasons-high-scores\">I profiled Barone once in my column at The Guardian. <\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\" data-autopogo>\n<p>Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone, has given a new interview &#8211; and finally revealed a little more information about his upcoming title, Haunted Chocolatier. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gq-magazine.co.uk\/article\/a-decade-after-stardew-valley-eric-barone-is-still-going-it-alone\">a wide-ranging interview with GQ<\/a>,  which tackles topics ranging from creative burnout to the importance of &#8216;cosy gaming&#8217;, Barone also slips in some new information about what we can expect from his highly-anticipated Stardew Valley follow-up.<\/p>\n<p>And it&#8217;s all rather surprising. Per the interview, this game is a much more action-oriented affair than the cosy homesteading of Stardew Valley: &#8220;It is still what I call a town game,&#8221; he told GQ, &#8220;but it&#8217;s more of an action RPG &#8211; the main focus is more about adventuring, finding equipment and getting more powerful. There are monsters, there are boss fights.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure>\n<div class=\"video_wrapper youtube\">\n<a aria-label=\"ConcernedApe&apos;s Haunted Chocolatier - Official Early Gameplay Trailer\" class=\"video-facade full-size\" data-platform=\"youtube\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zmvpXBl3xpk?autoplay=1\" title=\"Click to play video from YouTube\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Cover image for YouTube video\" class=\"video-facade__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/zmvpXBl3xpk\/hqdefault.jpg\"><span class=\"video-facade__title\">ConcernedApe&#8217;s Haunted Chocolatier &#8211; Official Early Gameplay Trailer<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p><a class=\"button video\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=zmvpXBl3xpk\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/figure>\n<p>For anyone that&#8217;s played Stardew Valley, this won&#8217;t be a massive shock; there is a combat element to the game, though mostly it&#8217;s sequestered to one portion of the map &#8211; the mines that hold some of the game&#8217;s rarest materials. If you had fun venturing in there at night to fight slimes and horde minerals, you&#8217;re going to like Haunted Chocolatier, it seems. &#8220;[The new game] is for the people in Stardew Valley that go into the mines. That&#8217;s what I do, honestly,&#8221; said Barone.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Elsewhere, Barone noted that Haunted Chocolatier is a more &#8220;metaphysical&#8221; experience than Stardew Valley &#8211; which makes sense, I suppose, given its connection to the world of ghosts and spirits &#8211; and that &#8220;no one&#8217;s playing the game until I&#8217;m ready to show it&#8221;. Hence, there&#8217;s still no word on a solid release date.<\/p>\n<div class=\"gallery\">\n<div class=\"image_wrapper\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier image showing the inside of a fishing shop\" height=\"872\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Haunted-Chocolatier-image-showing-the-inside-of-a-fishing-shop.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.761467889908257\" width=\"1536\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier image showing the inside of a fishing shop\" data-autosize=\"bounds_lossy\" data-uri=\"Haunted-Chocolatier-image-showing-the-inside-of-a-fishing-shop.png\" height=\"872\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.761467889908257\" width=\"1536\"><br \/>\n<span class=\"loading spinner large\"><\/span><\/p>\n<nav class=\"pagination--hoverable\">\n<div class=\"previous\">\n<button class=\"button pagination-button\"><br \/>\n<span aria-label=\"Previous\" class=\"icon\" role=\"img\" style=\"--icon-mask-image: url(&quot;\/static\/solid\/angle-left.svg&quot;)\"><\/span><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"next\">\n<button class=\"button pagination-button\"><br \/>\n<span aria-label=\"Next\" class=\"icon\" role=\"img\" style=\"--icon-mask-image: url(&quot;\/static\/solid\/angle-right.svg&quot;)\"><\/span><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<div class=\"details_overlay\">\n<div class=\"counter\">\n<span class=\"current\">1<\/span> <span class=\"of\">of<\/span> <span class=\"max\">8<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"details\">\n<div class=\"button-wrapper\">\n<button aria-label=\"Toggle information\" class=\"toggle button outline\"><\/button><br \/>\n<button aria-label=\"Close fullscreen gallery\" class=\"close button\"><\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"thumbnails-wrapper overflow-shadow-x\">\n<div class=\"thumbnails\">\n<button class=\"thumbnail active\" data-attribution=\"ConcernedApe\" data-uri=\"Haunted-Chocolatier-image-showing-the-inside-of-a-fishing-shop.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier image showing the inside of a fishing shop\" height=\"872\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Haunted-Chocolatier-image-showing-the-inside-of-a-fishing-shop.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1536\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier image showing the inside of a fishing shop\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"Haunted-Chocolatier-image-showing-the-inside-of-a-fishing-shop.png\" height=\"872\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1536\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-attribution=\"ConcernedApe\" data-uri=\"Haunted-Chocolatier-image-showing-a-nighttime-scene-with-a-person-next-to-a-watery-pool-holding-a-stick.-A-bear-like-creature-is-next-to-them.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier image showing a nighttime scene with a person next to a watery pool holding a stick. A bear like creature is next to them\" height=\"662\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Haunted-Chocolatier-image-showing-a-nighttime-scene-with-a-person-next-to-a-watery-pool-holding-a-stick.-A-bear-like-creature-is-next-to-them.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1177\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier image showing a nighttime scene with a person next to a watery pool holding a stick. A bear like creature is next to them\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"Haunted-Chocolatier-image-showing-a-nighttime-scene-with-a-person-next-to-a-watery-pool-holding-a-stick.-A-bear-like-creature-is-next-to-them.jpg\" height=\"662\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1177\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-attribution=\"ConcernedApe\" data-uri=\"GzUCVSBa4AMzPFu.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier screenshot showing player character looking out over a river in pixel art\" height=\"1377\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/GzUCVSBa4AMzPFu.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"2560\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier screenshot showing player character looking out over a river in pixel art\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"GzUCVSBa4AMzPFu.jpg\" height=\"1377\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"2560\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-attribution=\"ConcernedApe\" data-uri=\"haunted-chocolatier-blob-battle.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier screenshot showing pixel protagonist swinging a sword at a horde of purple blobs\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/haunted-chocolatier-blob-battle.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1600\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier screenshot showing pixel protagonist swinging a sword at a horde of purple blobs\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"haunted-chocolatier-blob-battle.png\" height=\"900\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1600\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-attribution=\"Eric &apos;ConcernedApe&apos; Barone\" data-uri=\"Huanted-Chocolatier-screenshot-showing-pixelated-ghosts-and-humans-in-a-chocolate-shop.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier screenshot showing pixelated ghosts and humans in a chocolate shop\" height=\"491\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Huanted-Chocolatier-screenshot-showing-pixelated-ghosts-and-humans-in-a-chocolate-shop.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"873\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier screenshot showing pixelated ghosts and humans in a chocolate shop\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"Huanted-Chocolatier-screenshot-showing-pixelated-ghosts-and-humans-in-a-chocolate-shop.jpg\" height=\"491\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"873\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-attribution=\"Eric &apos;ConcernedApe&apos; Barone\" data-uri=\"haunted-chocolatier-forest.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier screenshot of player character shooting leafy creature with bow and arrow\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/haunted-chocolatier-forest.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Haunted Chocolatier screenshot of player character shooting leafy creature with bow and arrow\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"haunted-chocolatier-forest.png\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-attribution=\"Eric Barone\" data-uri=\"haunted-chocolatier-grandpa.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Is this Grandpa in Haunted Chocolatier?\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/haunted-chocolatier-grandpa.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Is this Grandpa in Haunted Chocolatier?\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"haunted-chocolatier-grandpa.jpg\" height=\"1080\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1920\"><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"thumbnail\" data-uri=\"haunted-chocolatier-combat.png\"><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1021\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/haunted-chocolatier-combat.png?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1906\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"haunted-chocolatier-combat.png\" height=\"1021\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1906\"><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fullscreen_info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<span class=\"label\"><br \/>\nCaption          <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"text\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"attribution\">\n<span class=\"label\"><br \/>\nAttribution          <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"text\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"inline-gallery-caption\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"advert_container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The last update we had on the game was all the way back in January, where Barone <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/im-alive-the-game-is-still-in-development-stardew-valley-creator-concernedape-gives-update-on-haunted-chocolatier\">noted &#8220;I&#8217;m alive, the game is still in development&#8221;<\/a>, following up previous statements he made alluding to the fact that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/haunted-chocolatier-will-have-a-larger-world-than-stardew-valley-creator-confirms\">the world of Haunted Chocolatier is bigger than Stardew<\/a> Valley. As for when it&#8217;s coming out? &#8220;The bottom line is, I don\u2019t want to give a release date,&#8221; Barone said at the start of the year. &#8220;The game will come out when it&#8217;s done.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"2\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you want to learn more about the man behind one of video gaming&#8217;s biggest phenomena of the past few generations, I&#8217;d urge you to read the full GQ piece: it&#8217;s a sensitive, comprehensive look at a man that boasts many talents, yet is also humble and grounded. If you&#8217;re interested in the musical side of his development process, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/culture\/2022\/dec\/16\/stardew-valley-eric-barone-interview-soundtrack-seasons-high-scores\">I profiled Barone once in my column at The Guardian. <\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home News Haunted Chocolatier Stardew Valley creator&#8217;s new game, Haunted Chocolatier, is &#8220;more of an action RPG&#8221; than farming sim &#8220;It&#8217;s for the people that go into the mines.&#8221; Image credit: Eurogamer News by Dom Peppiatt Deputy Editorial Director Published on Oct. 12, 2026, 9:12 a.m. 5 comments Follow Haunted Chocolatier Prioritise us on Google [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,253],"class_list":["post-2191592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-eurogamer-net"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2191592","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2191592"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2191592\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2191592"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2191592"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2191592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}